AVONDALE SPRING MEETING.

Observer, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4, 5 October 1912, Page 15

AVONDALE SPRING MEETING.

THE Avondale Jockey Club brought its Spring fixture to a conclusion on Saturday last, and it is pleasing to register a record meeting for the Club. Good fields started on each day, and speculation was brisk, so much so that the sum of ,£36,321 was put through on the two'days. Assisted by an energetic staff, Mr H. H. Hayr, the secretary, had perfect arrangements, and no complaints could be made on this score.

The going at Avondale was all against Monorail and he will run better when racing on top of the ground.

Lady Betty showed a lot of pace for six furlongs in the Avondale Cup, and she may win a race in moderate company- • .„

Just after the start for the Plumpton Handicap, Uranium was galloping along on three legs, and her rider pulled up.

Had Lady Alicia left the mark with her opponents, there was a chance of her winning a race, as she showed a lot of pace.

That Master Wairiki was not yet wound up was plain from his running in the Avondale Cup, in which he finished last but one.

Mr P. W. Edwards did not waste any time with unruly horses at Avondale and ignored Lady Alicia, Pea Rifle, Surplus and Hyperion, and despatched the fields without them.

Regain, who has not been regarded as a sound horse, pulled up in a bad w-ay after contesting the Islington Handicap, and it is doubtful whether he will be asked to stand another preparation.

Miss Explosion, who made her reappearance at Avondale since being operated upon for throat troubles, ran a fair race in each of the hurdle events and evidently the operation will prove a succes. Condition would play an important part in her defeats last week, as she had done very little fast work.

Tripoli, a three-year-old daughter of Obligado, was well backed in the New Lynn Handicap at Avondale in the strength of some smart sprinting work on the traiks. Her supporters were left lamenting, as she was badly lett at the start and never got up with the field. Tripoli may do better when more seasoned to the game.

The Messrs Stead Bros, were present to see Bon Reve win the Wanganui Guineas for them, and the son of Boniform scored in most convincing style. According to a Wanganui scribe, he must be hard to beat in the C.J.C Derby if he keeps well. It is worthy of mention that the late Mr G. G. Stead made many attempts to win the Wanganui Guineas, but never succeeded. His eons have had better ltick.

Nominations for all events of the Auckland Trotting Club's Spring Meeting close on Friday of this week.

Last Friday morning at Avondale, Jeu D'Esprit took charge of the boy while doing a gallop, and bolted round the track four times.

Of the nine starters for the Avondale Steeplechase, only Hautere, Dhudeen and Bonnie Jean completed the course, and they finished as written.

Domino looked well at Avondale, and he is more forward now than he was at this time Jast year. Domino should be very well at N.Z. Cup time.

Prince Soult 'ran a fair race in the Avondale Guineas, but he had no chance with Bleriot, who was only going at three quarter pace over the last furlong.

The start for the Nihotapu Handicap, won by Euatangata on Saturday, was a wretched one, and had Eoyal Soult left the mark with the others he would have won easily .

The form of Jolie Fille at Avondale was hard to follow. In the Cup she was never sighted, but in the Plumpton Handicap on the second day she was always in front and won nicely.

After the first day's racing, Mr F. W. Edwards, starter, advised the Avoodale Jockey Club not to allow Surplus and Hyperion to race on the second day, in view of their unruliness at the barrier.

Th victory of Vestal in the New Lynn Handicap was one of the pleasantest incidences of the Avondale Meeting, as P. Conway, his trainer, has had a bad run for a long time, and the win was fully due.

W. Percival, the light-weight attached to J. Bae's stable, was riding with judgment and confidence at Avondale. His wins on Bleriot and Merry Roe were easy ones, but he must be given credit for riding a nice race on Scorch in the Mt. Albert Handicap.

Discussing the prospects of Ernlengarde, the three-year-old filly, by Charlemagne II Watershoot, a Sydney writer says she looks more likely to shine at six furlongs than at a mile. This bears out the popular New Zealand opinion, formed on the strength of her two-year-old running.

It is expected that Los Angelos and Bobrikoff will take part in the Champion Plate, one mile and a quarter, at the spring meeting of the Wellington Eacing Club next month. With these two in form, there would be an assurance of a fine contest without the need for any other competitors,

Sea Elf did not fulfil expectations at Avondale, where she raced on both days. In the Cup she was the last to leave the mark and finished well, but on the second day she was always up with the leaders and died away under pressure. Sea Elf may not be thoroughly wound up and may be seen to better advantage at Ellerslie.

Lady Alicia, the two-year-old daughter of Obligado, showed a strong dislike to the barrier and could not be induced to line up with the field.- On the second day, Mr. P. W. Edwards ignored her and sent the others away without her; She then showed a great buret of speed and finished just behind the placed horses.

After being off the scene for just on two years, the Monoform horse, Apellon, was responsible for a fine performance when he beat a good field in the Henderson Handicap. Apellon had been registering some smart sprints in his training, but it was the, general opinion that he would not begin quick enough to win a half-mile race, and the result was that his supporters received a good two-figure dividend. Darby Paul finished first in the big hurdles after putting in a great, run over the last quarter of a mile, but was disqualified and the race awarded to Bollin, the favourite. After getting over the last hurdle Darby Paul got abreast of Bollin, who was on the rails and the former bumped Bollm rather badly. So far as could be seen from the Jress stand, Darby Paul simply swerved in from the whip, and the bumping made no difference to the result, as Bollin looked to he well beaten. What happened appeared to toe unintentional so far as the rider ol Darby Paul was concerned (says a Wanganui writer), but the stewards, after hearing the evidence at the inquiry subsequently held, were doubtless in a better position to judge.than outsiders, and they decided to take race from Darby Paul and disqualify T. Jonee for 12 months for boring in.